Steam iron



oct. 4, 1949.

w. G. GREEN STEAM :non

Filed oct. A28, 1944 llll/l/ll/Ill/ll Patented Oct.. 4, 1949 STEAM RON William G. Green, Tulsa, Okla.

Application October 28, 1941i, Serial No. 560,886

4 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing irons, and it has for its object the provision of an improved pressing iron which is arranged so that it may be used as a conventional dry iron, and also to generate steam so that it may be used as a steam iron.

More particularly, this invention relates to a steam iron provided with a water reservoir from which the Water is fed into a steam generating chamber and it contemplates the provision of a steam iron of this character having an improved organization of parts; this improved organization includes suitable means for controlling the amount of the generated steam that is applied to the pressing surface and preventing any water from flowing from the water reservoir to the steam generating chamber. The use of such irons eliminates the need for sprinkling before ironing or the use of damp cloth during pressing operations.

Pressing irons of the type to which this invention relates should, if such irons are to be capable of eicient use, be provided with means for controlling and preventing the discharge of steam from the iron. This is true because of the fact that in pressing certain fabrics varying amounts of steam are required, and also at times it is necessary to entirely cut ofi the discharge of steam from the iron so that it may be used as a dry iron. One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a steaming pressing iron which includes as an integral part of its structure a steam controlling valve of such improved construction and arrangement that any amount of steam discharge, from the minimum to the maximum steam discharge of which the iron is capable may be obtained by merely manipulating, before or during an ironing operation, a valve operating element arranged in convenient relation with respect to the handle of the iron. Also, when desired the valve operating element referred to may be actuated to close entirely the steam controlling valve, and thereby completely cut oi the discharge of steam from the iron when it is desired to use the iron as a dry iron.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a construction that will stop water in the iron from entering the steam chamber adjacent the water reservoir so as to prevent water from passing out the discharge openings. My invention also contemplates such other objects, ad-

vantages and capabilities as will later more fullyappear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

Another object is the construction of an article as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steam generating iron embodying the present invenion.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion thereof showing means for introducing water into the storage chamber of the steam iron.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of a modiiied embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. i shows the operating knob for the thermotat aadjustment in the modified embodiment of The embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises a, body member I I, a handle I2, and a soleplate I 3 having a smooth outer bottom ironing or pressing surface I4. The body member II consists of a hollow body preferably cast in one piece of any suitable material, or made up of a number of pieces stamped and formed from any suitable material, the pieces then being assembled and joined by Welding, brazing, or other suitable means. Said body member I I comprises a water storage chamber l5 extending throughout its upper portion and a steam generating chamber I6 extending throughout its lower portion, the Water storage chamber l5 and the steam generating chamber I6 being separated by the partition I l. The steam generating chamber I 6 is closed in atthe bottom by the steam chamber cover plate I8, which is positioned by the annular recess I 9, and retained by the screws 20, the joint between the steam chamber cover plate I8 and the annular recess I9 being gasketed or otherwise sealed to render ii; Water and steam tight. The soleplate I3 is releasably secured to the body member ll and the steam chamber cover plate I8 by means of screws 2l and the combination steam nozzle and retaining screw 22. Water is introduced into the water storage chamber l5 through opening 23, which may be closed after filling the water storage chamber I5 by means of the screw plug 2G and gasket 25 (see Fig. 2).

In the partition Il is a tapped hole 26 into which is screwed the threaded neck 21 of the water valve assembly 28. The water valve as- Awise securedto top plate 33.

muy com or a body za, an inlet bau check .valve 38, an outlet ball check valve 3l. a bellows 32. and a top plate 33. The inlet ball check valve 3l is positioned by the hollow retaining screw 34 and the return spring 35. The outlet ball check valve 3| vis positioned by the return spring 38 andthe retaining pin 31. The bellows 3,2 is made of any suitable material, preferably metallic in nature, and is secured to the water valve body 28 by welding, brazing, spinning or .other means, and to the top plate 33 by similar means. The top plate 33 bears a hole 38 to 42 and return spring 43 maybe used to assist in returning push rod 39 to its upper position.

. The valve cover plate 40 is positioned by the annular recess 44` and retained by the screws 45,

ythe Joint between the recess 44 and plate 4I) being gasketed or otherwise suitably sealed. y

I provide a sadiron handle which is preferably made with a forwardly depending supporting member 46 anda rearwardly depending supporting member 41. 'I'he forwardly depending supporting member 45 may contain an opening 48 to house spring 43 and a hole 49 through which passes the push rod 38. Y

In a variation of this iron, a manually settable thermostatic kcontrol assembly 50 may be introduced. In this case the iron may assume the form shown in Fig. 3. In this form the steam generating chamber I6 is rearwardly limited by the Apartition 5I depending from the partition Il. In this form the Isteam chamber cover plate I8 is additionally secured to the partition 5I by screws 52, the joint between partition 5I and cover plate I8 being gasketed or otherwise suitably sealed. Steam chamber cover plate I8 in this form is provided with an opening 53 to admit placing. thermostatic element 54.` Thermostatic element 54 is positioned on-boss or bosses 55, preferably cast integral with the soleplate I3, and secured thereto by screws or`other suitable means. The thermostat adjustment rod 56 extends upwardly from thermo'staticv element 54 through tube 51 and terminates In the operating knob 58. Tube 5l may be cast in place, or may bexinserted through holes in body member` II and partition I1, being secured in this case bywelding, brazing, spinning, or other suitable means. Operating knob 5 8 may be made of any suitable insulating material, for instance a moulded plastic, and may have marked onits upper visible surface any temperature setting information found desirable. As shownin Fig. 4 the operating knob 58 may be provided with an indicating pointer 59 and the desired temperature information suitably marked on the body member. The manner in which the above described thermostatic control is manufactured and operatedis wellknown to those versed in the art and need not be described here. s In these instances the bottom of the body membei'l II and the top of the soleplate I 3 are provided with meeting recesses 50, 6I to accommodate a conventional heating element 62 pref- .erably electrical, although a gas or vapor may also be used. The heating element 62 constitutes no part of my invention, and is shown for illustrative purposes only, as being electrical in nature and provided with conventional terminals 63 at the rear of the body portions and connected to the element in the usual manner.

The manner in which the above described steaming iron is operated may be explained as follows:

When the article being ironed is too dry, and it is desirable to meisten it, the thumb piece 4I is pressed downwardly. Motion is thereby transmitted through the push rod 38 to the bellows 32, causing the bellows 32 to contract and eject water through the outlet ball' check valve 3l onto the heated steam chamber cover plate I8, thereby generating steam which, passing through the ports 64 in the combination steam nozzle and retaining screw 22, comes into intimate contact with the material being ironed, and thereby moistens same. The amount of steam generated is controllable, a short contracting motion of the bellows 32 ejecting a small quantity of water, thereby7 generating a small quantityk of steam; a longer contracting motion ejecting a greater quantity of water and thereby generating a greater quantity of steam. Releasing pressure on the thumb piece 4I allows spring 43 to move push rod 39 upwardly, thereby expanding bellows and drawing water from the storage chamber check valve 30', thereby preparing the system for the next cycle of operations. When it is desired to finish the article by ironingl dry, the

thumb piece 4I is not depressed. In such case, no water being ejected onto steam chamber cover plate I8, no steam is generated, and the iron may therefor be used as a conventional sadiron.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and' materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A steam iron comprising a hollow body structure having a soleplate, a handle iixedly secured to said body structure and provided with an internal cavity at one end thereof, means dividing the space within said body structure into a steam generating chamber and a liquid storage chamber arranged one above the other in the order named, intercommunicating means between said chambers, means for heating said soleplate and liquid in said steam generating chamber, `a pump disposed within said liquid storage chamber connected to said inter-communicating means for delivering measured quantities of liquid from said storage chamber to said steam generating chamber, said pump including an elongated actuating element movable between two positions to aetuate said pump, said element extending downward into said liquid chamber through said cavity and said one end of said handle, and spring means disposed within said cavity to bias said element toward one of its two settings.

2. A steam iron comprising a hollow body structure having a soleplate, a handle xedly secured to said body structure and provided with an internal cavity at one end thereof, means dividing the space within said body structure into a, steam generating chamber and a liquid storage chamber arranged one above the other in the order I5 into the bellows through the inlet` named, means dening a passageway interconnecting said chambers, means for heating said soleplate and liquid in said steam generating chamber, a pump disposed within said storage chamber connected to said passageway for delivering measured quantities of liquid from said liquid storage chamber to said steam generating chamber, said pump including an elongated actuating element movable longitudinally between two settings to actuate said pump, said element extending downward into said liquid chamber through said cavity and said one end of said handle and being provided with a linger seat adjacent said one end of said handle, and spring means disposed within said cavity to bias said element toward one of its two longitudinal settings.

3. A pressing iron comprising a base having a pressing face, a body portion mounted above said base and providing a liquid storage chamber and a steam generating chamber, said liquid storage chamber being disposed immediately above said steam generating chamber and having a top opening therein, means deiining an outlet for said liquid storage chamber for discharging liquid into said steam generating chamber, heating means for heating said base and for heating said steam generating chamber so as to convert liquid supplied thereto into steam, a steam discharge orice formed in said base interconnecting said steam generating chamber with said pressing face, a pump having a body physically disposed in said liquid storage chamber with one end thereof extending into said outlet, said pump body including a valve mechanism operatively associated therewith, said valve mechanism including means having an inlet check valve for introducing liquid from said liquid storage chamber into said pump body, an outlet check valve positioned in said outlet for introducing liquid from said pump body into said steam generating chamber, said pump body including an elastic membrane operatively associated therewith and capable of being expanded and compressed alternately to provide a suction and compression within said body thereby to control said valve mechanism, and a. manually controllable plunger rigidly connected to said membrane to vary its condition with reference to expansion or compression thereof, said plunger projecting through said top opening for manual manipulation.

4. A steam iron comprising a sole plate, a hollow body structure supported on said sole plate including a partition for dividing said hollow body structure into a liquid storage chamber and a steam generating chamber, a pump mounted on said partition within said liquid storage chamber so as to extend into said steam generating chamber and operative to deliver liquid from said liquid storage chamber to said steam generating chamber, said pump comprising a hollow body having an internal cavity communicating directly with both of said chambers, said body including a valve mechanism for controlling the ilow of liquid from said liquid storage chamber through said cavity to said steam chamber, said pump including flexible diaphragm means defining with said cavity a chamber of variable volume, movement of said diaphragm causing alternate suction or compression in said valve body in dependence upon whether the volume of said chamber is increased or decreased to actuate said valve mechanism to eiect liquid ow from said storage chamber through said cavity to said steam chamber, means for conducting steam from said steam generating chamber to the ironing surface of said sole plate, and an elongated actuating element connected to said diaphragm means and projecting outwardly from said storage chamber for manual actuation externally ofsaid body.

WILLIAM G. GREEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 193,145 Collins July 17, 1877 1,195,133 Dalen Aug. 15, 1916 1,843,568 Ledbetter Feb. 2, 1932 2,109,326 Tricomi et al. Feb. 22, 1938 2,180,818 Fields et al. Nov. 21, 1939 2,254,851 Miller Sept. 2, 1941 2,313,382 Kistner Mar. 9, 1943 2,317,706 Woodman Apr. 27, 1943 

